Towel rack



y 1945. G. w. SPIEGEL ET AL I 2,374,787

TOWEL RACK Filed June 27, 1944 Im'mtor 650E615 (SP/65;

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Patented May 1,1945.

ES PATENT OFF'ICE TOWEL RACK George W. Spiegel and Roy H. Morris, Clintonville, Wis.

' Application June 27, 1944, Serial No. 542,376

1 Clailn.

This invention relates to towel racks.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved towel rack incorporating in its construction elements which would otherwise go to waste.

An additional object of this invention is the provision of a towel rack of useful and durable construction at comparatively negligible cost.

A more specific object is' the provision of a structure incorporating an otherwise useless fluorescent tube.

A still further object is the provision of a novel method of manufacture and assembly of towel racks.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Having reference now to the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred form of this invention concept- Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of the completed assembled towel rack.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device.

Figure 3 is an exploded semi-perspective View of one of the brackets employed in supporting the central fluorescent tube and its associateda burned out or otherwise useless tube, positioned and adapted for use as a towel rack. Tube is adapted to be supported by a pair of reversible brackets H, provided with relatively right angularly disposed flanges l2, said flanges having apertures l3 therethrough through which may be passed suitable screws I4 for securing the same to a wall or other desired locality.

As is known, conventional fluorescent tubes are of a fixed diameter and provided with end caps l5, from each of which caps extend a pair of prongs l6 which, when the tube is in use, serve as contacts for the electrical circuit therethrough.

Each of brackets ll has adjacent its outer end a pair of spaced holes I! so positioned and spaced as to receive prongs I6 on the end caps I5 of tube It. Positioned at an intermediate point between holes I! is a third hole 20 through which is adapted to be passed a screw 2| (see Figure 3) threadedly to engage a recess 22 (see Figure 4) tapped into the end cap 15 of tube Hi. If desired adapted to, fit to present, a flush exterior surface.

From the foregoing the method of installation and assembly of the device should be readily,

understood. One of the brackets H is first secured to a wall or other suitable surface by means of screws l4 passed through holes l3 and one pair of prongs I6 inserted in holes ll. End cap 23 is then placed in position and screw 2| passedthrough the central aperture thereof and through hole 20 into threaded engagement with tapped hole 22in end cap l5 of tube Ill. The other of brackets II is then secured to the opposite end of tube ID in a similar manner, and subsequently, in order to insure proper spacing of the brackets, secured to the wall in suchmanner that tube I0 is substantially parallel to the floor.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there is herein provided a device which permits thev utilization of an otherwise useless fluorescent tube in a manner to make a new and useful article of manufacture, which may be readily and simply assembled and placed in position and jects above set out and others including many advantages of great practical mercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein shown and described, it is to be understood that allmatter hereinbefore set forth is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

In a towel rack, atowel supporting bar comprised of a fluorescent tube, a pair of spaced prongs at .opposite ends of said tube, eachend of said tube having a threaded recess therein, a, pair of brackets, each having a pair of spaced holes adapted to receive said prongs,'and each having a third hole disposed between said pair of spaced holes, end cups adapted to be positioned on the exterior side of said brackets to cover said prongs and having centrally disposed holes there-' through, screws adapted to be passed through each of said centrally disposed holes and each of utility and comsaid third holes, threadedly to engage said re- 

